Weekend Early

Able to reinvent itself even in the digital spectrum, radio is proving to be the most resilient form of mass communication in its wide reach and engaging character.

There are however challenges in leveling the playing field and including women voices.

Speaking to Unesco, media historian Michael Socolow shared his views on the issue.

He says there is a bias that has contributed to the low number of women broadcasters across the world.

Sometimes men are not as willing to listen to women’s voices on the radio and I think that is a real problem. I think it is a bias problem, but I think it is one we can overcome with more education and by placing more women on the airwaves.

— Michael Socolow , Media Historian

They are held to a different standard and the bias is not applied to men equally.

— Michael Socolow , Media Historian

He says there will always be a place for radio in media and has encouraged diversity in sports coverage.

Radio is relatively inexpensive to produce and broadcast. And it is very exciting to listen to radio, especially sports on the radio because the announcer really transmits a lot of excitement and there is a lot of passion about the sports and it really involves the listener to participate.

— Michael Socolow , Media Historian

Diversity is a great way to bridge cultures and societies.

— Michael Socolow , Media Historian

We all don’t love necessarily the same sports. For instance, what hockey means in Scandinavia and Canada, doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing in Africa. And I think by placing more of these sports and explaining them and making them engaging to global audiences, we can create bridges amongst people.